SUSAN HALBERG'S ENGLISH 101 CLASS AT MESA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Susan Halberg and her vibrant collection of aspiring writers were kind enough to invite me to their Mesa College classroom where I gave a reading, fielded a few questions, and signed a few books. Young writers motivate me, inspire me.  Got to tell you, this is the part of being a writer that is cool, very cool...

Clif the Lawyer came along to talk about some of the legal aspects of publishing and snap the photograph. Clif the Lawyer is the man.

"Dave Cruz," a short story from The Eight-Fingered Criminal's Son, served as the reading selection. The real life Dave Cruz recently contacted me. He  has read the book and he approves the way he's been  portrayed. If you read the book you'll understand why I was quite relieved to hear he approved. Dave will be attending The Beer and Cheese Whiz Eight-Fingered Criminal's Son Event at The Book Frog in Rolling Hills, California on October 6th.

The Eight-Fingered Criminal's Son, Rio Salado Readings, The Book Frog, Crowded Classrooms, Door Accidents, and Battery Acid

 

                                                                                                                                                                                           

I'm laying low this weekend after a tough week on the teaching front. 

We have  new email systems and grading programs, inferior and requiring more time and effort  than our old systems. Furthermore, teachers are required to use a new system for formatting lessons. I've taken on an extra class and I have 50 more students than I had last year. There are 45 students junior English class. There isn't enough oxygen in that poorly ventilated classroom for 45 adult sized students. I once had a class with 50 students but I was 20 years younger. I know, whah, whah, whah, plenty of people work hard, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to figure out a way to streamline things. This became apparent  Thursday afternoon when, totally engrossed in trying to remember why I left the my classroom,  I walked into the corner of a door, leaving me with a massive headache all day Friday.

No flash reads this weekend. We'll get 'em next week. I've been invited to give a reading for a Rio Salado Freshman English  on November 23. And then there is the October 6th  Beer and Cheese Whiz Eight-Fingered Criminal's Son Event at The Book Frog in Rolling Hills, California. A few folks who inspired characters in the book will be on hand to take part in the festivities. Should be a real hoot.

Oh, something interesting happened at school this week. A couple of kids were caught drinking battery acid in one of the science labs. Authorities say they'll be charged later.
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BUY THIS BOOK!

Would you buy a collection of mostly true, pretty funny  stories about growing up in 1970s Southern California from this man?

You can join the 364 people who have by clicking on this link:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Eight-Fingered-Criminals-William-Snyder/dp/1468142585

If you're in the metropolitan Phoenix area, you can pick up a copy of The Eight-Fingered Criminal's son at Papa Joe's Barber Shop or Chandler Auto and Tire. You gotta ask yourself how many people on the planet ever have the chance to get a book and a haircut or book and an oil change? The answer is darned few, baby!

The flash read camapign  with Dickey "Tom Jones" Imburgia continues with two flash reads scheduled for next Saturday, September 15th.

If you're in So Cal, the  Eight-Fingered Criminal's Son Cheese Whiz  Event is scheduled for October 6th at The Book Frog in Rolling Hills.

 

OBLIQUE STYLE MARKETING FOR THE EIGHT-FINGERED CRIMINAL'S SON

 
360 copies of my book The Eight-Fingered Criminal's Son have been sold since October of 2011. We're not exactly talking New York Times best seller, but I wasn't sure I'd sell 100 books.

I've tried various goofball marketing ploys, posting quirky promotional videos on You Tube, doing book signings at Chandler Auto and Tire and Papa Joe's Barber Shop, and most recently the flash read campaign with Dickey "Tom Jones" Imburgia. And my oblique marketing campaign and over yet.

A spectacular flash read with Dickey "Tom Jones" Imburgia is scheduled for October 2 at Papa Joe's grand opening of his new new barber shop in Chandler, Arizona and a Cheese Whiz event scheduled for October 6 at The Book Frog in Rolling Hills, California. We're planning a flash read in the produce section of a Chandler, Arizona grocery store.

My new novel The Spirit Guide Bar will be available in 2013.

You can pick up a copy of the THE EIGHT-FINGERED CRIMINAL'S SON at the following locations:

The Book Frog, Rolling Hills, California
Chandler Auto and Tire, Chandler, Arizona
Changing Hands Book Store, Tempe, Arizona
American Import Auto Repair, Gilbert, Arizona
Zia Records, 8 locations in Nevada and Arizona

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/The-Eight-Fingered-Criminals-Son-ebook/dp/B0083LH4HU/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1334182364&sr=8-1-fkmr0

KIM MORGAN'S CREATIVE WRITING CLASS

It was my honor to do a reading of "Dave Cruz" for Kim Morgan's creative writing class in Chandler, Arizona. Kim's students were a fantastic audience.  Man, they even laughed at the funny parts. Afterwards we had an invigorating talk about the writing process,inspiration and flash reads. What a rush! Got to tell you, those new school writers inspired me.

"The Eight-Fingered Criminal's Son" Flash Read - Saturday, August 18th

My flash read team is world class, baby.

It is without hyperbole that I state Dickey "Tom Jones" Imburgia is a legit top notch comedic actor. He's even funnier than Rick Moranis.Yeah, I said it. I meant it too.

My former student and current day professional cameraman Steven Bogumil handled the camerawork while former student and current film school student Austin Imburgia edited the video. Seriously impressive work on both counts. Steven and Austin are skateboard film makers at heart. I'll be sure to post some links to their skater videos soon.

My little girl Sophia did a darned good job being cute and chucking snowballs if I don't say so myself.

For our next trick, we'll be knocking out a flash read at an Arizona grocery store.

The point of these flash reads is to sell books. you can purchase the book and the electronic version by clicking on the link below.

http://www.amazon.com/Eight-Fingered-Criminals-Son-William-Snyder/dp/1468142585/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343873414&sr=1-1&keywords=the+eight-fingered+criminal%27s+son

RICK MORANIS AND AN EIGHT-FINGERED CRIMINAL'S SON FLASHREAD EXCUSE

Thanks to my pal Joel Fricke for his California dreamin' photo of The Eight-Fingered Criminal's Son on the beach.

No flashread this week. Teaching has been hard. Not terrible, just hard. Did I mention that I have a junior English class with 47 students?  It's really hot too. It's 113 degrees today. This is because I live in the desert.

There will be another flashread at Papa Joe's Barbershop in Chandler next Saturday at noon. Dickie "Tom Jones" Imburgia will be part of thing. Austin Imburgia and Steven Bogamill, two of my all time greatest former students, will handle the cameras. Should be pretty good. By the way, I'm relatively sure I misspelled Steven's last name. Sorry, Steve.

I'm in the process of punching up my novel The Spirit Guide Bar. The book will be released in 2013.





If you're in the  greater Los Angeles area, it would be great to see you at the Eight-Fingered Criminal's Son Cheese Whiz Event at the Book Frog in Rolling Hills. The event will go down at 2 pm on October 6th. Dickie Tom Jones Imburgia and Rick Moranis have been invited. Passages will be read, books will signed and beer and cheese whiz will be had by all.

You can order a copy of The Eight-Fingered Criminal's Son by clicking on the link below.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Eight-Fingered-Criminals-William-Snyder/dp/1468142585/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334182364&sr=8-1-fkmr0

Eight Fingered Criminal's Son Flashread at Papa Joe's Barbershop - August 4, 2012

The flashread campaign is in full swing. Dickie "Tom Jones" Imburgia is  brilliant. The next flashread will go down Saturday, August 11th.

THE BOOK FROG in Rolling Hills, California is hosting THE EIGHT-FINGERED CRIMINAL'S SON CHEESE WHIZ EVENT on October 6th at 2 pm. Rick Moranis has been invited. More exciting than that, Dickie "Tom Jones" Imburgia is thinking about attending.

My new novel will be rleased in 2013.

FLASHREADS!

My first whack at the 8FCS flashread book marketing campaign went down on July 21 at Papa Joe's Barbershop. My eight year-old daughter Sophia handled the videography.  It seems little Sophia was the ony family member who wasn't too embarrassed for me to take part. The two of us blasted into the shop like the Lone Ranger and Tonto.  I asked if anyone had a problem with a two minute flashread. If any of the fifteen or so customers had any reservations they were too stunned to make them. I introduced myself and the book, reassured the small crowd I'd be out of their hair in less than two minutes, and read a ninety second blurb from the book. Upon finishing, I thanked the mystified listeners and got the heck out of there.

As far as I know, the flashread is my own invention. There will be more flashreads. I'll keep you posted.

The Eight-Fingered Criminal's Son is available at the following locations:
Papa Joe's Barbershop - Chandler, Arizona
Chandler Auto and Tire - Chandler, Arizona
Changing Hands Book Store - Tempe, Arizona
Zia Records - 8 locations in Arizona and Nevada

The Book Frog - Rolling Hills, California
http://thebookfrog.blogspot.com/2012/07/shop-online-and-support-indies.html

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/The-Eight-Fingered-Criminals-William-Snyder/dp/1468142585/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334182364&sr=8-1-fkmr0

Barnes and Nobel - BN.com
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/The-eight-fingered-criminal-s-son?keyword=The+eight-fingered+criminal%27s+son&store=allproducts
_____________________________________________________________________________

Rick Moranis is still following me on twitter.

I'll be doing a second reading at THE BOOK FROG in October.

An Arizona creative writing teacher ordered a set of The Eight-Fingered Criminal's Son for her writing classes.

I'll be releasing a novel in 2013.

RICK MORANIS AND THE EIGHT-FINGERED CRIMINAL'S SON BOOK SIGNING EVENT AT THE BOOK FROG - BRIAN FRANK'S PHOTOS - PART 2

June 30th, 2012

PeteLedesma, co owner of the Book Frog, and I costarred in Andy Peterson's 1980 college film Coffee Tea or Murder. I think we're ready to do the sequel.

Pictured here with yours truly are Cathy Finn, Mark Zembruski, Jimmy Ireland, Therese Fry, and Patrick Rodriguez. They attended Saint Joseph's Catholic School with me. The all agreed that Danny Gilroy's Pencil is a heckuva lot more true than mostly true.

Your loss, Rick Moranis.

PICK UP YOUR COPY OF THE EIGHT-FINGERED CRIMINAL'S SON AT ZIA RECORDS

You can pick up a copy of THE EIGHT-FINGERED CRIMINAL'S SON at any of the eight ZIA RECORDS locations in Phoenix, Tempe, Chandler, Tucson, and Las Vegas.


PHOENIX LOCATIONS:
Indian School & 19th Ave.

1940 W. Indian School, Phoenix AZ 85015

Phone - 602-241-0313
Monday through Saturday 10 AM – 11 PM
Sunday 10 AM – 10 PM

Dobson Rd. & Chandler Blvd.

1940 W. Chandler Blvd, Chandler 85224

Phone - 480-857-4942
Sunday through Thursday 10 AM – 10 PM
Friday & Saturday 10 AM – 11 PM

Thunderbird & 25th Ave.

2510 W. Thunderbird Road, Phoenix 85023

Phone - 602-866-7867
Monday through Sunday 10 AM – MIDNIGHT

University & Maple

105 W. University, Tempe AZ 85281

Phone - 480-829-1967
Monday through Sunday 10 AM – MIDNIGHT


TUCSON LOCATIONS:

Speedway

3370 E. Speedway Blvd, Tucson AZ 85716

Phone - 520-327-3340
Sunday through Thursday 10 AM-10 PM
Friday & Saturday 10 AM - MIDNIGHT

Oracle & Prince

3655 N. Oracle Road, Tucson AZ 85705

Phone - 520-887-6898
Monday through Sunday 10 AM – 10 PM


LAS VEGAS LOCATIONS:

Sahara & Decatur

4503 W. Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas NV 89102

Phone - 702-233-4942
Monday through Sunday 10 AM – MIDNIGHT

Eastern & Flamingo

4225 S. Eastern Avenue, Las Vegas NV 89119

Phone - 702-735-4942
Monday through Sunday 10 AM – MIDNIGHT

http://ziarecords.com/Home

You can also pick up a copy at the following venues:

Papa Joe's Barbershop - Chandler, Arizona
Chandler Auto and Tire - Chandler, Arizona
Changin Hands Book Store - Tempe, Arizona
The Book Frog - Rolling Hills, California

RICK MORANIS AND THE EIGHT-FINGERED CRIMINAL'S SON BOOK SIGNING AND DISCUSSION AT THE BOOK FROG - Bryan Frank's Photographs - Part 1

 Was it Tom Petty who said the waiting is the hardest part?

It was 2:00 sharp and just two guests were on hand. But they were pretty cool guests, my old Saint Joe's Catholic School pal Mark Zembruski and the L.A. Groundling and TV commercial actress formerly known as Kerri Anderson.

Here is superstar L.A. photographer Bryan C. Frank with his beautiful daughter Camia. Bryan took all of the photos on this post.

Pretty cool to see a whole mess of my books on display at the finest indy bookstore in SoCal.

Adam Rodriguez was kind enough to help me clear the jitters with a solid smack to the side of of the face. It helped.

The book store  owner, stand-up comic and writer formerly known as Pete the Pelvis Ledesma provided a smooth introduction.

I got out there and started talking. And then I started reading.

My old educational tv colleagues Val and Kerri were kind enough to laugh at the parts that were supposed to be funny.

Dellis and Camia were nice enough to act interested.

This is Pete's right hand Book Frog man Jackie.

"Who's the wise guy that just asked me to read from 50Shades of Gray?"

Now that's what I call an audience!

Here are Lynell Resnick, Kieth Boyd and my wife Gail.  I hadn't seen Lynell for 25 years. We were ushers at the Fabulous Forum during the Show Time Laker days.

 Kieth is a stand-up comic turned rocket scientist. No kidding. My old comedy pal is a proud member of the Space X team that recently docked the Dragon rocket ship with the space station. I had lunch Kieth at Space X headquarters across the street from my boyhood home in Hawthorne. I had the opportunity to meet Space X owner Elon Musk and sign a copy of my book for him. To my knowledge Elon is the only billionaire who owns a copy of THE EIGHT-FINGERED CRIMINAL'S SON. Maybe I can get the space X guys to send a copy of the book into space or something.

That's my gorgeous wife Gail to Kieth's right. I prompted Kieth to ask what my wife thought of the book during the question and answer session. It was a heckuva a lot of fun to watch her him and haw for an answer when I directed Kieth to ask her himself. You see my wife hasn't read my book...

Scout

Below is Clif the Lawyer of Cactus Surf Books. Clif inspired me to move forward with The Eight-Fingered Criminal's Son 18 months ago. He was involved with every aspect of the making of this book.

Notice the guy to the right peeking from behind the book shelf. That's Jay Resnick. We were Forum ushers together about 100 years ago. I was reading from the book when he walked in wearing his old Forum usher uniform, causing me to stop reading and laugh my tail off. When I asked Jay how he got to keep his uniform he said when they finally fired him, he just walked out to the parking lot leaving his street clothes in his locker. Jay was part of the Santa Monica/Venice Skateboarding scene and can be seen in the film "The Lords of Dogtown."

THE EIGHT-FINGERED CRIMINAL'S SON SIGNING AND DISCUSSION AT THE BOOK FROG



It was exciting to return to my old stomping grounds and see this ad in The South Bay Daily Breeze.  I threw papers for the Breeze about a hundred years ago and there is a story in the book called The South Bay Daily Breeze.



NEXT STOP: THE BOOK FROG



The Eight-Fingered Criminal's Son Book

Signing and Discussion Event at The Book

Frog

Saturday, June 30th, 2012

2pm

550 Deep Valley Drive
Rolling Hills Estates CA 90274

http://thebookfrog.com/

Rick  Moranis could be there...